By splitting it into four stages of 100 laps apiece, NASCAR has increased the points value of the event.

The race is also worth the most points of any throughout the entire 26-race regular season. The initial schedule released in February noted that the Coca-Cola 600 would be broken up at laps 115 and 230, with the final stage concluding on the 400th lap.

So what does this all mean for the drivers? Drivers nearly universally have praised the new format, as they're now rewarded for their performance throughout a race and their accomplishments during the 26-race regular season (wins, points accumulated) are now applied to the first three playoff rounds. If the driver takes the checkered flag at the end of the 600 miles, they'll take home an additional five playoff points.

Head of French bishops welcomes Macron's electionIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not address National Front's gains in the vote in a statement congratulating Macron. The party's first secretary Jean-Christophe Cambadélis said "a procedure is ongoing".

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has made a change to its stage-based race format specifically for its longest race of the year.

"You look at the way Charlotte was laid out and the length of the race, it was just sort of a natural to add another one to break it up a little further and make a few more moments", Scott Miller, NASCAR's senior vice president of competition, said in a statement. "The challenge of adjusting to the track surface from hot to cool puts more pressure on crew chiefs and pit crews", said Marcus Smith, president and chief operating officer of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. "The distance is greater".

With the additional stage, the Coca-Cola 600 effectively has a greater impact on the championship than any other regular season race - including the Daytona 500 - as it now awards more points. However, even with the added cautions at this point in the season than in 2016 - 98 compared to 80 - they have lasted an average of 5.5 laps compared to 5.7 past year.

In the three-stage format, the race was divided into 100, 100 and 200 lap stages. This will also be the only race in 2017 to feature more than three stages.

James Clapper told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that he expects similar attacks to become a growing problem in the future. Microsoft's top lawyer is laying some of the blame for Friday's massive cyberattack at the feet of the USA government.

Desire might have been the difference for Seattle, which played in the final past year , but lost in five games to Brandon. He was the hands-down star of Game 5, netting two goals and an assist to give Seattle the series lead.

Luiz monitored the time taken for questions and Costa held the fire extinguisher aloft in the direction of journalists. However, he has been back to his best this term, and is the favourite to win the Premier League golden boot.

You ever hear of manslaughter?" Acting coach Mike Brown said he noticed Iguodala hobbling so he was cautious not to overuse him. Leonard said he tuned in to the game from the locker room once Golden State had cut San Antonio's lead to eight points.

Carrasco was relieved by Nick Goody , who gave up an RBI double to Evan Longoria , and the Indians' lead was down to 7-5. In the third, Yan Gomes continued his torrid May by doubling off the left-field wall, which scored Ramirez from first.

That kind of rhetoric has unnerved allies in Japan and South Korea, who would be at the sharp end of any North Korean response. Paul says the worst-case scenario involving North Korea would be an attack on its southern neighbor, a major US ally.

Trump abruptly fired Comey on Tuesday and later said Comey was a "showboat" and "grandstander" who was not doing a good job. Trump has told reporters that he could make his decision public before leaving for the Mideast and Europe on Friday.

The unidentified suspect walked into the Thriftway Harvest Market store in Estacada, Oregon , around 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, May 14. Once inside the store, the suspect stabbed an employee, who was flown to a hospital, according to Sandy Police.

Kevin Harvick, who was also a lap down earlier in the race finished third, pole sitter Ryan Blaney fourth and Kyle Busch fifth. Keselowski, Harvick and Blaney went three-wide with Keselowski on the high side, and he made the move stick to finish second.

At the time anaylsts said that the critique on the Revolutionary Guards could detrimentally affect Rouhani's election campaign. Rouhani faces his most-serious challenge from hard-liner Ebrahim Raisi , a favorite of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Week 9 'DWTS' Elimination Odds For Each Couple
Julianne told the ballplayer: "I'm so over calling you the fan favorite because you are so meant to be here". At the end of the night, based on scores and votes from last Monday, one couple will be eliminated.

Oregon men and women when Pac-12 track and field titles
OR quickly jumped in front during the first inning with a 4-0 lead and five of the team's first six batters getting on base. The game Saturday lasted 3:21, marking the 15th time in the last 16 matchups between the teams to go three hours or longer.

Exelon's (EXC) "Hold" Rating Reiterated at BMO Capital Markets
The company has been one of the biggest innovators in "Diversified Utilities" employing approximately 34396 full time employees. Live Your Vision LLC raised its position in Exelon by 0.9% in the first quarter. 2,094,478 shares of the stock were exchanged.

Merkel's conservatives score decisive win in key state vote
Carsten Nickel, an analyst with Teneo Intelligence, said the NRW result was a sign that Merkel was on her way to re-election. Social Democrats have lost because of voters' disgruntlement over a number of issues ranging from security to traffic jams.

Nurses to stage 'summer of protests' over pay
The comments come as the Lib Dems said nurses and teachers could be in line for an average £780 pay rise if the party gains power. The Royal College of Nursing says that 40,000 unfilled posts in the NHS in England have left staff under "enormous" pressure.

Nearly 1 million tune in to watch Derek Jeter's speech
DeShields hit a slicing chopper that third baseman Trevor Plouffe fielded near the line with Gomez running in front of him. At his first big league camp in 1994, he was given No. 74. "If there's something to report I'll let you know".

Fire burning near Lake George "human caused"
Fire crews will remain onsite tonight to monitor smoke conditions in case the road needs to closed again due to smoke. Fire behavior quieted down overnight, allowing most firefighters and the helicopter to be relieved.

Hillary Clinton launching new political group
The mission seizes on the energy of the "resistance" movement that's built up in response to Donald Trump's presidency. With guidance from former Democratic Chairman and Vermont Gov.

Australia dodges most of ransomware attack
It says the latest virus exploits a flaw in Microsoft Windows identified by, and stolen from, USA intelligence, a BBC report said. More than 200,000 people around the world have been affected by the malware, Jake Cigainero reports for NPR's Newscast.

ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman's wife killed in vehicle accident
Unfortunately Chris Berman had a disgusting loss today and we here at TVOvermind want to extend his family our deepest sympathy. This awful event comes just a few months after Chris chose to step down from his busy schedule after nearly 40 years at ESPN .